Clothes-washing machine



July 2, 1929. 3, ROBERTS 1,718.981

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l V Fizz- Q VEN 7'0 R. (HA/5 L E5 3055/?75.

ATTORNEY y 2,, 11929. c. ROBERTS CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet i'fllllrd INVENTOFR f/ARLE 5 ROBERT). nrrbR/v ix Patented July 2, 1929..

UNITED STATES CHARLES ROBERTS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO HARRY BOHN, OF- DAYTON,

OHIO.

CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed July .19,

This invention relates to a clothes washing machine and one object of the invention is to provide such a machine which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and attractive in appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the operating mechanism will be enclosed and the exterior of the machine will be substantially'free from moving parts. 7

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a washing machine of such a character that the operator may be seated in a position I from which the machine may be readily op erated.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is avertical sectional ,view taken-centrally through the washing machine'and partly broken away; Fig. 3is a horizontal section taken on the line 3.3 of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the connected parts of the tub, pedestal and gear box and showing a modified form of'connection between these parts.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodimentof my invention and have shown the same as applied to a washing machine comprising a tub 1, which is supported on the upper end of a pedestal consisting of a base 2 and ayer'tical standard 3 of relatively small diameten The tub may be of any suitable shape and size, the pedestal being shaped to accommodate-it to the tub. As here shown, the tub is substantially cylindrical and is of a diameter materially greater than the diameter ofthe standard?) so thatitwill overhang the base 2. The lower portion of the side wall of the tub is rounded or curved inwardly, as shown at 4.

Intel-posed between the standard of the pedestal and the tub is a gear box 5 which rests upon .the upper end of the standard 3 and on which the tub is supported, the several.

parts being rigidly connected one to the other.

Preferably the tub has a flht bettomwall 6 provided at its outer edge with an upwardly extending'portion oi fiange 7 whichis connected with the inwardly curved lower portion of the side wall, thus providing a recess in the bottom of the tub. The bottom wall 6 1928. Serial No. 293,845.

of the tub has a central opening which is closed by a plate 8, preferably circular in form and resting upon the inner edge of the bottom. In the present instance, the gear box 5 has an upwardly extending flange 9 on which the inner portion of the bottom wall rests and above which the closure plate 8 rests upon the bottom wall. The closure plate. and consequently the tub, is connected with the pedestalby suitable fastening devices which extend through the gearbox. As shown in Fig. 2, the standard 30f the pedestal has at its upper end inwardly extending apertured lugs 10 through which extend screws 11, the upper ends of which are threaded into sockets 12 on the lower side of the closure plate 8. These screws extend through the gear box which may, if desired, be provided with apertured lugs 13 to receive the same so that: when the screws are tightened down the several parts will be rigidly connected one to the other and held against relative-movement.

The closure plate 8 carries a tubular member 14 arranged centrally thereofand having a portion extending upwardly to a point near the top of the tub and having a second portion extending downwardly into the gear box. Preferably the central portion of the closure plate slopes from this tubular member downwardly and outwardly and has its outer portion of the form of a flange which rests upon the bottom wall of the tub. Journaled in the tubular member 14; is a shaft-15 the upper end of which projects above the upper end of the tubular member 3 and has secured thereto a connecting member, such as a cap 16 having a non-circular exterior contour. Mounted within the tub is an agitator which, as here shown, comprises a disk-like lower portion 17 having rigidly secured thereto and formed integral therewith, if desired. an upwardly extending tubular port-ion or housing 18 which surrounds the inner tubular member 14: and has at its upper end a screw thread 19 to receive the non-circular cap 16, thereby rigidly connecting the agitator with the shaft 15 and permitting it to be readily removed by lifting it vertically from the tub. The agitator is also provided with blades 20 having portions extending upwardly from the disklike lower portion 17 of the agitator and extending laterally from the housing 18.

In that form of the device shown in Fig. 2

the lower end of the shaft extends below the tubular member 14 and is seated in a hearing or socket 21 formed in the bottom of the gear box 5. Rigidly secured to the shaft between the bearing and the lower end of the tubular member is a pinion 22 which meshes with a toothed segment 23 pivotally mounted in the gear box at 24 and is here shown as provided with an arcuate slot 25 to permit the passage of one of the connectingscrews 11. A spring 26 confined between thetubular member 14 and the gear holds the gear against vertical vibrationa The gear box 5 has a laterally extending portion 27 provided at its outer end with an enlarged portion or housing 28. The gear box is here shown as divided horizontally into upper and lower portions, for the convenience of assembly. J ournaledin the -housing 28 is a vertical shaft 29 having rigid- 1y secured thereto a worm wheel 30 which meshes with a worm 31 on a horizontal shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings in the housing 28 and connected at its outer end with a motor 33. Mounted on the shaft 29 and adapted to be connected therewith for ,rotation thereby, is a driving member or eccentric disk 34 which is embraced by a bearing ring or eccentric strap 35 carried by one end of a connecting rod 36, the other end of which is pivotally connected with the toothed segment 23, as shown at 37. The driving member or eccentric disk 34 is preferably loosely mounted on the shaft'29 and means are provided for connectingthe same with and disconnecting the same from that shaft to control the operation of the agitator. As here shown, the disk has mounted therein a pin 38 which projects above the upper surface thereof and is adapted to enter any one of a series of openings 39 in the disk-like clutch member 40 having a hub portion 41 which is splined or otherwise secured to the shaft in such a manner as to permit it' to have sliding movecircumferential groove 46to receive a projection 47 on a locking lever 48 which is pivotallymounted on the housing 28 and when this pro ection is seated in the groove 46 it will hold the clutch in its operative position and when positioned below the knob will hold the clutch in its inoperativeposition. VVashing machines of this type are usually provided withpoweroperated wringers and I have here shown a tubular supporting standard 49 mounted on the upper side of thehousing 28 andadaptedto support awringer and-to enclose the operating shaft therefor. This .50 of the tubular member.

shaft is not shown but is adapted to be connected with the upper end of the shaft 29 which projects into the standard 49. p

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have utilized the downwardly extending portion of the tubular member 14, which is shown at 50, to connect together the tub, gear box and pedestal. For this purpose the lower portion of the tubular member is elongated and extends entirely through the gear box and into the verse recess 54 through which the shaft 15 extends and in which the gear'22 is located, the lower end of the shaft being seated in a bearing recess 55 in the lower portion of the part The gear box contains all of the driving mechanism, the only exposed movable part being the shaft which connects the driving mechanism with the motor. Consequently the space between the tub and the base 2 of the pedestal is open and unobstructed at all points except adjacent to the laterally extending portion of the gear box and the motor. This permits of the operator being seated on a stool, or other suitable seat, close to the tub with her knees beneath the tub and in a position in which the operation of the washing machine and the wringer may be readily controlled. Further, it provides the machine as a whole with a smooth exterior which is free from moving parts and which can be easily kept clean. In this'connection it may be noted that the term gear box is here employed in a. broad sense andis intended to include any casing of the general character here shown which is adapted to contain the driving mechanism, regardless of whether or notthis mechanism includes gears. \Vhile I have shown and described one emibodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications-may occur to aperson skilled in the art. Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A clothes washing machine comprising a tub, a pedestal having a standard of relatively small diameter arranged beneath and centrally of saidtub, a gear boxinterposed between said tub and said pedestal, means for rigidly connecting said pedestal, said pedestal, a tub having a bottom supported on said gear box about said opening, a plate within said tub and overlapping said bottom and that portion of said gear box on which said bottom is supported, means for connecting said plate and said gear box with said pedestal and clamping the bottom of said tub between said plate and said gear box,

an agitator within said tub, and mechanism" in said gear box for actuating said agitator.

3. A clothes washing machine comprising a pedestal having a central standard, a gear box supported on the upper end of said pedestal, a tub having an opening in the bottom thereof, a closure for said opening, said tub and said closure being supported by said gear box, means for connecting said closure with said pedestal and securing said gear box between said parts, an agitator within said tub, and mechanism within said gear box for actuating said agitator.

. 4. A clothes washing machine comprising a pedestal having a central standard, a gear box supported on the upper end of said pedestal and having a laterally extending portion, a tub supported by said pedestal above said gearbox, meansto rigidly connect said pedestal, said tub and said gear box one vto the other, an agitator in said tub, and

mechanism in said gear box for actuating said agitator.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising a pedestal having an upwardly extending portion of relatively small diameter, a gear box supported on the upper end of said pedestal, a tub having an opening in the bottom thereof, a closure for said opening, said tub and said closure being supportedby said gear box, means for connecting said closure with said pedestal and securing said gearbox between said parts, a tubular mem ber carried by said closure, extending upwardly into said tub and extending .down

wardly into said gear box, a shaft journaled in said tubular member, an agitator mounted in said tub about said tubular member and connected with said" shaft, an operating mechanism mounted in said gear box and connected with said shaft.

6. A clothes washing machine comprising a pedestal having an upwardly extending portion of relatively small diameter, a gear box supported on the upper end of said pedestal, a tub having an opening in the bottom thereof, a closure for said opening, said tub and said closure being supported by said gear box, means for connecting said closure with said pedestal and securing said gear box between said parts, a tubular member carried by said closure, extending upwardly into said tub and extending downwardly into said gear box, a. shaft journaled in said tubular member, an agitator mounted in said tub about said tubular member and connected with said shaft, a pinion rigidly secured to said shaft within said gear box, a toothed segment meshing with said pinion, a. connecting rod pivotally connected with said toothed segment, a driving shaft mounted in said gear box, and means for operatively connecting said connecting rod with said driving shaft.

7. Aclothes washing machine comp-rising a pedestal having an upwardly extending portion of relatively small dian'ieter, a gear box supported on the upper end of said pedestal, a tub having an opening in the bottom thereof, a closure for said opening, said tub and said closure being supported by said gear box, means for connecting said closure with said pedestal and securing said gear box between said parts, a tubular member carried by said closure, extending upwardly into said tub and extending downwardly into said gear box, a shaft journaled in said tubular member, anagitato-r mounted in said tub about said tubular member and connected with said shaft, a pinion rigidly secured to saidshaft Within saidv gear box, a toothed segment meshing with said pinion, a connecting rod pivotally connected with said toothed segment, a driving shaft mounted in said gear box, an eccentric disk loosely mounted extending apertured lugs, a. gear box supported on said pedestal, a tub having a bottom wall providedwith a central opening, said bottom wall resting upon said gear box, a. closure plate arranged within said tub and resting upon said bottom plate above its line of contact with said gear box, screws ex tending through the apertured lugs of said pedestal, through said gear box and threaded into sockets in the lower side of said closure plate, an agitator mounted within said tub, and mechanism mounted within said gear box for actuating said agitator.

9. A clothes washing machine comprising a pedestal having a base and a standard of relatively small diameter, a tub supported by said pedestal and overhanging said base, a gear box interposed between said pedestal and said tub and extending laterally from said pedestah'a motor supported adjacent to said gear box, operating mechanism within said gear box and connected with said motor, the space between said tub and said pedestal bepedestal and said base to enclose the operating mechanism of said machine, the space between said tub and said pedestal being open and unobstructed at the front of said machine.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

CHARLES ROBERTS. 

